Improvement in apparatus for purifying alcohol



L. R. n. 0. De B. De L-OUVAGNY.

Apparatus for Purifying-Alcohol. I

N0 ]53,055' Patentedluly14,1874.

- Wu; ynffi, db, way? aim/av UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

LUDOVIG ltElNE RAOUL, GOMTE DE BEAUREPAIRE DE LOUVAGNY, OF

GRIVESNES, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFVING ALCOHOL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,055, dated July 14, 1874; application filed June 13, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDoVIc REINE RAOUL, Goi/iTE DE BEAUREPAIRE DE LOUVAGNY, of Grivesnes, France, have invented Improvements in Purifying Alcohol, and inapparatus employed therein, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for separating the others and essential oils from new brandy, whisky, or other spirituous liquors; and it consists of a boiler provided with a steam-coil for heating thesame, and connected with an air-pump by means of a trumpet-shaped tube opening into said boiler below a perforated plate near the bottom, the said boiler communicating with a condenser. at the upper part, and with another boiler or rectifier below, as and for the purposes to be hereinafter.described.

The drawing represents a View of my apparatus, partly in section and partly in elevation.

D represents a boiler or still, through which passes a steam-coil, a, for the purpose of heatingits contents. crepresen tsa pipe, extending from a point near the bottom of the boiler I), up through the top of the same, and communicating with an air pump, P. The end of the pipe 0 within the boiler D is open, and hell or trumpet shaped, as shown at S. Just above the trumpet-shaped month of the tube 0 is arranged a perforated plate or diaphragm, M, extending entirely across the boiler, and dividing it into two compartments. G represents a condenser arranged on the top of the boiler D, and communicating with it; and d, a pipe leading from said condenser into a supplementary condenser, or into the open air. it represents a pipe passing from the lower part of the boilerD down into a lower boiler or rectifier. (Not shown.) Thelower end of the pipe to may be made to communicate with said boiler, the upper end being connected with the refrigerator or condenser, in which the alcohol is finally collected or condensed.

, My apparatus is intended to be operated as follows: The boiler D is sufficiently charged with the wash or dilute impure spirit, which is heated up to a temperature below the evaporating point of alcohol, but above that of ether, by means of the steam-coil a. In beginning the operation this must be done by means of steam, which may be generated in the lower boiler, but in subsequent operations it is to be accomplished by the vapors escaping or passing over from the said boiler or rectifier during the rectifying operations, as will be presently explained. The wash .or spirit in the boiler, before commencing the operation, should be mixed with the usual alkaline purifying material, or the same should be placed in the boiler D before introducing the spirit. lVhen properly heated, the

air-pump P is put in operation, so as to force a current of air into the wash. The air will enter below the perforated plate M, by which it will be distributed throughout the entire mass of the wash, and will assist in carrying off the ethers, which will pass over into the condenser G, where they will be collected. The agitation caused by the air will materially assist the saponificat-ion or decomposition of the essential oils contained in the wash,'so that they may be easily separated from the alcohol afterward. The operation in the boiler 'D is carried on for about twenty-four hours, after which the charge is run into the lower boiler for rectifying. The vapors passing over from the rectifying-boiler on their way to the still may be carried through the tube a, for the purpose of heating subsequent charges of fresh wash orspirit.

WVhat I claim is- 1. The boiler D, in combination with the tubes a and R, communicating with a rectifier or lower boiler, as and for the purposes herein described.

2: The boiler D, in combination with the pipe 0, leading from the air-pump, and the perforated diaphragm, as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the air-pump P, pipe 0, boiler D, and'steam or heating coil a, constructed and arranged as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

BEAUREPAIRE DE LOUVAGNY'.

Witnesses DAVID S. FULLER, ALBERT OAHEN. 

